At the meeting we received a report on the recent building work and the complications of the funding arrangements (as we are a listed building, we can claim the VAT back on repair work, which adds considerably to the paper work!).
Our proposal earlier in the year to launch a mid week worship experience for children and families (“Messy church”) will be put on hold for the time being as we do not have sufficient people to run this. The PCC expressed some sadness at this but recognised that this may not be the time for this project – however, we do hope to be able to do it at some point in the future.
We were alerted to the 50th anniversary of the church which comes up in 2013 and were asked to start thinking about possible activities and commissions for the year.
Now that we have three mass settings we can sing, the PCC agreed to a recommendation to alternate these throughout the year. Here is how it should work:
We agreed that Back to Church Sunday will be held on October 4th this year (our festival of dedication)
People who had taken part in the week of guided prayer reported on the week, which they would recommend to anyone to do, and which had had a profound spiritual and personal impact on them all.
The PCC heard that a lot of research had been done to establish information about the sword. The Armouries section at the Tower of London had been involved and we have established that the sword is an infantryman’s sword dating from 1845. It is possible that the Leeds Royal Armouries museum might be interested in acquiring it, but if not, the PCC agreed to investigate selling the sword. We have been advised by the diocese that it would be illegal to display the sword in the church and that unless we can provide secure, lockable storage for it, it would be best to donate it to a museum or sell it.
The PCC expressed some concern at the lack of support for recent activities. The attendance at the flower festival had been very disappointing, and agreed to rest this for a few years. Support for table top sales and concerts were also disappointing. We agreed to look at next year’s activities and to think again about the number of special events that we put on.
We also agreed to a proposal for a pew top plaque in memory of Breta Pearson.
If you would like any more information about any of these items please ask any member of the PCC whose names are listed on the porch notice board.